The Translator of these ANNALLS wisheth to His Imperiall Maiestie , blessednesse , perpetuall health , with all happinesse , prosperitie , and felicitie , in both worlds .

EXcellent monarch ; heere is the first-borne of a Labour , as vnhoped for as the occasion is extraordinarie , which prostrates it selfe , with all humilitie , at the feete of your Maiestie , to doe you an Homage of his Birth , and in paying vnto you his first duetie , craues leaue to wander the World , and visit his friends .

In these vnhappy times , which lately made France ( my countrey ) the sad obiect of pitie , and the mournfull subiect of good peoples sorrowes ; on a day , sitting vpon the shores of Babylons gulph , aspecting with watty eyes the deplorable estate of Christs true Church , which in the throng of these miseries was sore wounded with iniuries , appearing as if she● had attained the decrepit age of a dying life , which breath 's forth her last gaspe : And as I expressed by my teares the dolor of her afflictions , and by my sighes the desires of her deliuerance , my eyes imitating in their glances the wishes of my soule , sought for the place where the great god Pan vsed to feed and keepe his flockes at noone day : I discouered a far off , some sparkes of the Sunne of Iustice , which in this happy country of Goshen shines perpetually , whilest an eternal night couers Egypt with the gloomie clouds of darkenesse . Thither suddenly I directed my Vowes ; which God prospered so happily by his prouidence , that ( after many dangers , tedious and toylsome iournies ) I at length arriued here , where I found

A PEACEABLE KING , in whom is brightly discerned an harmonious vnity of all christian & roial vertues , the Empire of that great Empress of vertue , Piety , from whence all others deriue , & the admirable Oeconomy of Charity , conducted with Prudence , educated by Experience , and that experience drawn from diuers examples of precedent ages , & proofs of this present ; which produceth in him all kindes of actions both iust and necessary , by which he freely giueth himselfe to the Church and Common-wealth for pledge and caution of their peace and prosperity .

AN HAPPY NATION ( which vnder the fauourable Scepter of such a Prince , in whom the sacred fountaine of the most exquisite graces of heauen , abounding with all sorts of prosperity , hath aboue others the honour to settle the Church of Christ , and with her , Piety and Iustice her constant followers ) whom the benigne aspect of heauen causeth to flourish with ioy and perfect peace , whilest a cruell Warre spoiles and ransackes both neighbouring countries and remoter parts , with vnheard-of torments and excessiue sorrowes .

God , who calls himselfe the Prince of Peace , stiles himselfe also the King of Warre ; to shew , that he rules all worldly affaires with his incomprehensible eye of prouidence , as well as with his inuincible hands of all-powerfulnesse . But , to make plaine to all mens vnderstandings how farre God is against Warres , Strifes , and Contentions ; and on the contrary , how much he loues Peace and Vnitie , it is said , Blessed be the Peaceable , because they shall be thereby knowne to be the elect of Christ , and heyres of heauen .

Your Maiesty ( great Monarch ) on whose head God ( as his Lieutenant here on earth ) hath placed three Crownes ; beares both the warlike Sword of Ma●s , and the peaceable Oliue branch of Minerua , as did that Pallas , whom the Athenians took for their titulary goddesse , because she presided in peace as well as in warre . But what is the expedition of Warre , to the subduing vnder his lawes , by the sweetnesse of Peace , the passions of men ? to bring them to reason , and to settle them in a firme and assured rest ? what to vanquish by force a people , to the conquering of whole nations hearts by loue ? to lose them , in stead of gayning them ? The multitude , wondring at the Sonne of God , who calm'd the greatest tempest , cryed out , What is he whom both Seas and Windes do obey ? Euen so ( happy King ) when I saw at my landing so many exquisite effects of your rare wisedome , the peace & happinesse of your subiects , with the tranquillitie & blessednesse of your diuine soule ; I could not but likewise exclaime , Ah! what is this IVST MASTER , and prudent King , whose admirable spirit workes so many wonders !

God gouernes , from the highest place of heauen , the earth ; and from the lowest place of it , the heauens : because his prouidence and almighty power , being infinite , fills all places , yet vnlimited . For though by his omni-presence hee be euery where , yet he is included no where .

Your Maiestie , who by the excellent and harmonious order of your wise dispensation , doe rule with a melodious & delightfull harmonie , with One of your Kingdome , all the Three ; & from the farthest place of Great Brittanne , all Great Brittanne ; presiding by your power in all places , disposing by your wisedome all things neere and farre , and perfecting them by your iustice : you cause all the dependences of your essence to be found in all places , and all things to be but one and the same thing , & each thing to be as all things . And euen as to the humane body , that excellent part of the brain , which the Anatomists call the admirable lines or traces , by their serpentine courses and turnings , exquisitely folded and vnited together , whose number is no lesse infinite than the workmanship thereof most rare ; doth so excellently refine the vital spirits , that they are sent thither from the heart , which makes them moueable , and serue as instruments of Conception , of Iudgement and Memory : Your Maiestie doth in like maner receiue in your Spirit , which is the most admirable and exquisite peece of that great imperiall body , of which your Maiestie is the head , the aduises and counsailes , the requests and demonstrances , which from the heart of your estate , as the vitall spirits of it , are sent to you , for to passe them thorow ( that labyrinth of Rarity ) your iudgement , where you refine them so with the diuers considerations of your prudency , that they proue necessary instruments of peace , the tranquillitie and prosperitie of all your subiects .

The entrance or beginning of a raigne is most commonly thornie and difficulty , yea dangerous and painefull ; not onely full of cares , but also tedious and troublesome : so that it had beene better for some kings to haue neuer raigned , or else to haue ended their dayes at their beginning . This moued the Philosopher Solon to sing these verses to Mydas king of Phrygia , at the entrance of his Cities :

But your Maiestie ( great King ) who by the speciall grace of God , and the prudence wherewith he hath endued you , farre aboue all other Princes , haue found the entrance of your raign spacious , delightfull and secure : and being grounded vpon the protection , enuironed with the blessings , & conducted by the prouidence of that Soueraigne dispenser of Scepters and Crownes ; you haue hitherto raigned , to the admiration of all the world , PVISSANT AND MAGNIFICENT , RICH AND CONTENT , HAPPY AND GLORIOVS ; and in all , perfect and accomplisht .

PVISSANT AND MAGNIFICENT indeede , sith that ( with full power and authoritie you raigne ouer so many puissant Nations , which God hath subiected to your Maiestie , vnder the homage and duety which you daily pay vnto him , as to the onely soueraigne King of kings .

RICH AND CONTENT , in possessing them peaceably , without opposition ; extracting pleasure of all that can be contributed for the glory of God , which you seeke for your owne contentment .

HAPPY AND GLORIOVS also , sith that ( by those testimonies of loue which God giues you , and the thankesgiuing which your Maiesty yeeldeth him ) you haue vpon all occasions free accesse to his incomprehensible Maiesty , a familiar entertainment with his infinite goodnesse ; Heauen being alwayes open to your contemplations , and whatsoeuer your Maiesty can thinke most exquisite , rare on earth , fauourable to your wishes , is all bent for your felicitie . Oh how happy is your sacred Maiestie ! what mortall can apprehend it ? how glorious ! and who is he that can expresse it ?

But behold , this is the chief point , ouer which my considerations cannot pass without staying ; & yet rest they neuer so little , they enter as it were into a labyrinth for a while . Gods graces and blessings fall most commonly into vngratefull hands , who dispence thereof the more niggardly , by how much they receiue them aboundantly : and the most part of men erre so farre , that in stead of worshipping in them the soueraigne power and prouidence of God , they striue to excell him ; nay , it lies meerly in their owne vnpowerfulnesse , that they doe not ouerthrow his incomprehensible Empire and Throne of glory . By meanes whereof , it falls out that it ofttimes chances to them , as to those subalternal Deities , who for putting themselues in Iupiters bedde , were by a boysterous winde , suddenly metamorphosed into strange shapes .

But your Highnesse ( mighty king ) makes vse of it , as fire of the perfume ; you returne those blessings to heauen againe through your praises and thanksgiuing : you disperse them about you by your royall liberality ; for whosoeuer hath the honour to approach neere your Diuinity , is enlightned with the beames of your diuine vertues . And as Salomon did build and ( with the stones of mountaines , and Cedars of Libanus ) erect Altars to God : so you make therof instruments , and materialls to prop the house of God .

Soueraigne authority vpon the people , meetes oftentimes with violent hearts , which makes him not vnlike the daily motion of the Sunne ; so swift , that it is terrible ; and so terrible , that it would consume away if it should last long : but your Maiesty knowes well how to temper your Authoritie by your Iustice , & likewise your will by your prudence ; insomuch that this first course is moderated by the second , which is yearely , and runneth from West to East by the oblique Zodiaque circle : by this sweet , temperate and moderate course you order the seasons in your Monarchy : you cause a delightsome Spring , that produceth diuersity of flowers in aboundance ; a rich and pleasant Summer , which yeelds all kinde of fruites plentifully , by which you reward paines and labours , you reflect the desires , you content the hopes of euery one , according to your wise dispensation . And as God is not contented meerely to bring forth his actions in the highest heauen ; but by his Spirits administration , descends from that palace of glory , to the lowest deep , runing & flying thorow all quarters of this Hemisphere , to dispose all things by his almighty powerfulnesse : Your Highnesse ( prudent King ) imitating the proceedings of that incomprehensible Monarch of Heauen and earth , which alone is a patterne to your soueraigne Maiesty , do not anchor your actions in that Imperiall Hauen of your glory , the kingdome of England , which , gouerned by the Soueraign authority of your Highnesse , as her primum mobile , carries those to others which are ioined to him , by the bands of one only power , Scotland and Ireland : but also the fame of your rare vertues spreads all ouer beyond the seas , your admirable prudency ; & your immortal pen , the fruit of your deep learning , at which nations being amazed , admire with reuerence , so rare and accomplisht a Maiesty .

But what East wind driues my sails into so wide an Ocean , carrying away my endeuours farre beyond the reach of my power ? Stay , my thoughts ; whither runne yee ? Rest contented . My curiositie , what seekest thou ? Silence , my tongue ; what dost thou say ? Oh! would my skill , which is so small , dare to aspire to so high a taske , so weake and rashly to think to penetrate thorow so bright a sunne ? so short , and presume to sound his depth ? Good King pardon these hardy glances of my spirit , enlightned with a diuine light , and animated by an extraordinary vertue . Those which aspect the beames of the Sunne , within the Sunne , thinke a long time after they behold still a Sunne before their eyes ; not being able , by withdrawing the sense of the obiect , to draw the Idea of the spirit . Thus since I haue had the honour to see in so happy and glorious deeds your actions , in your actions your vertues , in your vertues your Maiesty , and your Maiesty in it selfe ; these rare and exquisite obiects , as so many Sunnes , haue so rauished my senses and eyes , that they seeme to see them alwaies present before them . Moreouer , the Idea which is remayning in my intellect , hath brought them to such extraordinary designes , that if my forces were correspondent to my desires , and my vnworthinesse to the dignity of the subiect which animates me , I had alreadie proclaim'd your diuine perfections from one end of the earth to the other , yea from the earth to the heauens : and taking for my auditors so many blessed soules , which there gloriously inhabite , I should haue recited to them , with the admirable actions of your incomparable vertues , these glorious and blessed deeds which issue thereof , and the most excellent glory which your Maiestie thereby inherites ; at least , how in these last fearefull troubles of my sad , afflicted , and sorely desolate countrey , which so farre opprest her , that losing the sight of her owne reason , she had almost lost her selfe in it selfe ; or , as I may well say , spoyled her selfe with her owne strength and defence . Your Piety ( all-rare Prince ) which is all-Iustice , cast her compassionate eyes vpon the deplorable and most lamentable condition of her poore oppressed brood : your Iustice , which is all-Charity , lent her eare to their wofull & sorrowfull complaints : your Charity , which is all-Prudence , opened her heart to their needy miseries and extreme wants , and your Prudence ( which hath alwayes the eyes , the eares , and the heart open at all times to such poore afflicted wretches , who doe implore of your Maiestie like pious actions ) making at that time a charitable distribution , euer bound both publike and particulars to vow their heartie prayers to heauen for your health ; & their true seruices to the world for the prosperitie , greatnesse , pleasure and contentment of your Maiestie .

But the worthinesse of the subiect , and my insufficiency , hauing deterr'd me from so high an enterprise ; I haue moderated my designes , which aspired so high , and placing them in a meane region , I rul'd my endeauours by my might , doing my best to finde out , as well for my owne satisfaction , as for the good of others , to whom I communicate as many consolations for miseries , and instructions of this wicked ages experience ; in which we see regenerated what remained of workmen , instruments , materials and labours , to perfect the worke of this ages iniquity , the lees of ages past , which with his muddy wine troubles the braines , corrupts the manners , and debaucheth the noblest functions of manie : I haue destinated them for to seek out the growth , beginning , and progresse of this happy and magnificent reestablishment of Euangelicall truth and puritie , the first and soueraigne cause of your Maiesties glory , the securitie of your estate , and prosperitie of your people , which in this flourishing Empire hath three crowns , of which your Ma: is the first Monarch , who receiue from Gods fauourable grace , by the hands of your religious prudence , so great a perfection , that it makes the whole work most wonderfull : a prop so solid , that when the raine is fallen , the stormy streames and impetuous floods come against it , and when the windes haue raged strongly , and blowne furiously at it , it could not be shaken , but still remained firme , strong , constant , and alwayes a flourishing pillar of securitie .

And my designes haue so happily , though vnfortunately , succeeded , that when I had collected my senses , and prepared my selfe for this Work , I found it ready done by one of your Ma: subiects , in the Latine History , which he hath digested into yeares , describing such things as passed during the most glorious raigne of that heroick & inuincible Princesse , aboue her sexe , full of magnanimitie , rare in Piety , admirable in her counsailes , wonderfull in her courage , and blessed in all her enterprises , that incomparable Queene ELIZABETH , who in her time vndertooke to build the royall worke of this happy reestablishment , vpon the ground and ancient foundations laid by her ancestors , for a time slackt and decayed ; but after her Maiesty had gloriously raised it to the last Story , she left the rest vnto your most sacred Maiesties care , to perfect , who hath truely brought it into that happy and magnificent estate now flourishing , hauing vtterly dissipated the many errors and abominations , which here ( before her raigne ) abounded ; as he , who bearing Armes after Ionathan , slew the Philistines , who fell dead before him .

Had I not regarded others , but my selfe onely , I had sufficient matter to content my curiositie ( in enioying , with rest & leisure , the sweet fruit of a labor meerly premeditated ) without bringing it to this most tedious & no lesse pennible , than difficult action . But as my naturall disposition & reason possesse my inclinations , still to practise , study and labour for the common good , though neuer so much preiudicial to my particular affaires ; and as this Piety , of which I carefully sought the mystery ( directly opposite to the mysterie of iniquitie risen in these later times ) permits me not to bury my talent in the earth , how small , and of little value soeuer it be ; and likewise the experience which I haue purchased in the diuerse voyages , forraigne abodes , accesse , frequentation , and knowledge of this my peregrination , taught and assu●ed me , that this History cannot but be welcome , kindly receiued , deerely cherished , and preciously valued of an infinite number , as well your Maiesties subiects , as others , to whom their ignorance in the language , interdicted 〈…〉 And as my selfe in the vnderstanding of it , found that it was in its nakednesse and simplicity , adorned with the most rare draught , most liuely and naturall colours , which can be found eyther in Art or Nature , and in the chiefest parts thereof , filled with exquisite and solid instructions , which the best able can giue , the most curious wish , and the most subtle and ready witts apprehend ; iudging , that the more it is knowne , the more glory comes thereby to God , the more seruice to your sacred Maiesty , the more prosperitie to your blessed raigne , the more strength to your powerfull state , and the more terrour to all your foes : I haue done it in the French , my natiue language , which is now the only tongue that entertains the commerce of conceptions , amongst the diuersitie of nations , to shew to the world , that among an infinitie of memorable causes and things , remarkeable effects and successe , at least this magnificent peace and prosperitie , which begun to bud forth vnder the raigne of this most prudent , pious , magnanimous , truely Catholike and Christian Empresse ( who can neuer be by any duely praised , and to this day propagated & continued in this your Maiesties most blessed and peaceable gouernment , with so illustrious splendor , that though it be enuied of many , yet it is admired of all ) proceedeth directly from the reestablishment of Christs true and pure seruice ; and by so many , diuerse , happy , glorious , and particular deeds most eminent , arising to this triumphant nation , is plainly manifested , that truly the only meanes well and happily to raigne , is sincerely to serue God , who defends those that defend his Faith , and honours them that honour him ; For to such as first seeke the tranquility and aduancement of his raigne , all things fall out answerable to their wishes ; also that the seedes of iustice are sowed in the fields of peace , to be reaped by the peace-makers ; that piety hath both the promise of the present and the future life , and that indeed it is the originall source from whence spring all other vertues .

Your sacred Highnesse ( pious Monarch ) hath already seene and perused the manuscripts of this worke , which I presented to your Maiesty some moneths agoe , to receiue from you , as from my Oracle , direction , whether I should publish it or not . But since it hath pleased your most sacred Ma: to honour these lines of mine with your iudicious approbation , I haue caused them to be printed , and vpon this expressiue caution , as earnest of your gracious fauour , I assure my timorous desires , that your Ma: will be pleased to see the same now in its perfect shape . Sith your Highnesse daign'd to grace it with the benigne beames of your goodnesse at its birth , I prostrate it at your feete , as a praeludium of my industry , and the premises of my most humble seruice . And if I may be so happy , as to see this my labour once more approued , & my oblation graciously receiued of your Ma: I hope that my courage , animated with so good fortune , will performe a greater enterprise ; and so great a fauour , rousing vp and reuiuing my spirits , will make my labours so fruitfull , that I may be able in time to quit my selfe of my vowes and duties , & pay vnto your Ma: ( with a better labour ) more agreeable seruices , & to the world fairer fruits of my study .

I once thought to detaine it captiue vnder silence , fearing to aduenture so vnpolisht a peece of worke among so many Worthies ( who haue already settled their worth in the beleef of others ) lest they , by the shril sound of their lustre , might obscure this worthlesse worke : neyther would I haue exposed ( but vnder your Maiesties protection ) its fortune to the malignant malice of this age , its honest meaning and simplicitie , to the scoffes and wicked interpretation of hellish slanderous tongues , and base worldlings , my contentment to the despisings of the enemies of its originall , my talent and its gaine , to the pillage & ransacking of those , who ( being partially interessed , hauing their eyes & iudgements blinded with affected interest ) perhaps will discharge their passions herein , paying my labours with ingratitude , and my holiest intentions with persecutions . But sith 't is in a maner a translation which represents faithfully the authors conceptions ( so well approued , that it is a true proofe of his ingenious industry ; which will sufficiently content the most curious , cleare the Reader of doubt , and chiefly those doubts conceiued by this works ill-willers ) the worst which can befall me , is to be a caution of my deeds and faults , and in neyther changing , adding , or diminishing , free & absolue me from all blames : sith Piety , which begot it , expressely commands me ; and Charity , which brought it forth , graciously summons me to publish it , and to bestow the profit & pleasure thereof vpon my neighbours , to whom questionlesse it will be most delightfull , pleasant , and vsefull . And truly those which it most concernes , haue had , of a long time , that power vpon my owne proper benefites , sith my contentment consists not in the praise of Printing , but to please and profite thereby the vertuous and gracious . The courses of this worlds affaires , and the diuerse inclinations of men , instruct me that it will be beneficiall to diuers , yea to the enemies hereof , who for not vnderstanding truely the Latine hitherto , could not haue a true knowledge of its particularities . And for as much as your Maiesties gracious approbation assures me of your royall protection , and God which hath preserued it heretofore , doth warrant me from all misfortunes , I venture this assay of my luck , and publish this commerce of my talent , both vnder his Diuine prouidence , and your Maiesties leaue and authority , that it may therfore wander the world with security , and yeeld contenting pleasures to those who shall honour it with the gracious beams & fauorable aspect of their eies : I doubt not but it may meet with peaceable mindes , fauourable spirits , pure hearts , and sincere affections , who will reade it without passion , censure it ( with meekenesse ) without partialitie , to draw thereby the good which I intend them . May it therefore be acceptable to your most excellent , most August , and most Imperiall Maiestie , to whom I dedicate and consecrate it , vpon the Altar of my sinceritie , in testimonie of my humble seruices , deuotions , and to purchase to my selfe the dignitie to be entitled ,

As there is nothing in this world in euery respect blessed , & in each particular happy ; so there is no constancy in humane things especially , and according to Saint Jerome , of the felicity of this world , whilest we seeme to , possesse it , we part from it .

We see , and dayly experience proues vnto vs , what the condition and state of this life , with the goods of it is , the motion of it being ( as Saint Gregory saith ) so swift , the possession so vncertaine , as now we bee fatted in the fragrant posture of prosperity , now pined and languishing , & on the bare commons of misery , so that neither in weale or woe , there is any constancy , but all things are suddenly changed , and vary in a moment , so that we may repose more trust in letters written in the wind or water , then in the happinesse of this humane life .

According to Herodotus , it is as a circle of humane things , which by her turning suffers not a man to be alwaies fortunate and prosperous .

Virgil exclaimes , Time alters all things : and Cicero tels vs , The course of this mutable life is vnconstant , and all the fortunes of men are vaine , voluble and variable : a meere Euripus for ebbing and flowing of worldly goods : in a moment our mirth being turned to mourning , & our sorrow into solace .

The Royall House of the STVARTS , and the illustrious Family of the SACKVILES , not long since , had wofull experience . Of the Royal one , there being pulled from the boughes of it , two beautifull Roses , to wit , the two Noble Dukes of Lenox , LODOWICKE , and ESME , two rare Brothers , of most vertuous and laudable conuersation . Of the other , a Noble branch was cut from that Tree of Honour ; RICHARD , the most good and most Noble Earle of Dorset , and Baron of Buckburst , of happy and blessed memory : All which , in this yeere , within the space of fiue moneths , piously and peaceably slept with Christ .

WILLIAM CECIL , Baron of Burghley , Lord High Treasurer of England , ( about 16. yeers past ) opened vnto me ( farre from my thought ) first , some memorials of State of his own : afterwards , those of the Kingdome ; and from them , willed me to compile a Historie of Q. Elizabeths Raigne from the beginning . I know not to what intent , vnlesse whilest he prouiding for the propagation of the Queenes honour , meant to take a taste of my abilitie in this kind . I obeyed , and indeed not vnwillingly , lest I should be thought to haue been wanting to the memory of the best Princesse , his expectation , and truth it selfe ; which to me equals them both . For shee being escaped , and hauing hidden herselfe , my hope is to finde her there , or no where .